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Facebook and Twitter Executives Face Senate Questioning: Live Updates Live Updates: Facebook and Twitter Executives Face Senate Questioning
(35 minutes later)
• Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, and Jack Dorsey, the chief executive of Twitter, are testifying in Washington on Wednesday about their companies’ response to foreign interference in elections and the moderation of online content.• Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer, and Jack Dorsey, the chief executive of Twitter, are testifying in Washington on Wednesday about their companies’ response to foreign interference in elections and the moderation of online content.
• It is the first time that either executive has testified on Capitol Hill.• It is the first time that either executive has testified on Capitol Hill.
• Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey are appearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Larry Page, the chief executive of Google’s parent company Alphabet, was also invited but the company declined to send him.• Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey are appearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Larry Page, the chief executive of Google’s parent company Alphabet, was also invited but the company declined to send him.
• At 1:30 p.m., Mr. Dorsey will testify alone before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the moderation of online content. He is expected to face accusations that Twitter demonstrates political bias.• At 1:30 p.m., Mr. Dorsey will testify alone before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the moderation of online content. He is expected to face accusations that Twitter demonstrates political bias.
• The hearings can be watched live on the Senate Intelligence Committee website, C-Span, and the House Energy and Commerce committee website.• The hearings can be watched live on the Senate Intelligence Committee website, C-Span, and the House Energy and Commerce committee website.
Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican of Florida, questioned the executives on their allegiance to American values such as free speech as they are pressured by foreign nations to suppress the voices of users outside the United States.
“Your company would not exist if not for United States and the freedoms we have,” Mr. Rubio said.
When asking of Facebook’s commitment to free speech globally, Ms. Sandberg said “we support these principals around the world,” adding that the company does not have servers in Vietnam and would apply those same principals to China.
With Twitter, which defines itself as a global town square, Mr. Rubio said he was concerned that foreign governments could pressure the company to stifle speech.
Mr. Dorsey responded by saying the company regularly pushes back against nations like Turkey, which demands the site censor certain voices or shut down the site.
“Often times we’ve won but that’s not always the case. We would like to fight freely and see everything,” Mr. Dorsey said.
Mr. Rubio had strong words for Google, saying their decision to miss the hearing was “maybe because they are arrogant” or maybe because they wanted to dodge questions a recent negative report he read about a consumer watchdog group posing as a Russian troll farm to buy ads on Google.
— Cecilia Kang
Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey’s opening statements displayed their obvious differences.Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey’s opening statements displayed their obvious differences.
Ms. Sandberg, who was born in Washington and spent years living there during her time at the Treasury Department, appeared confident in her opening remarks. Speaking clearly and with practiced pacing, she complimented the committee’s previous work on election interference. Ms. Sandberg, who was born in Washington, and spent years living there during her time at the Treasury Department, appeared confident in her opening remarks. Speaking clearly and with practiced pacing, she complimented the committee’s previous work on election interference.
Mr. Dorsey stumbled during his opening, forgetting to turn on his microphone and reading from a cellphone he held in his hand. He added that he was also live-tweeting his opening remarks through his Twitter account.Mr. Dorsey stumbled during his opening, forgetting to turn on his microphone and reading from a cellphone he held in his hand. He added that he was also live-tweeting his opening remarks through his Twitter account.
While Ms. Sandberg made consistent eye contact with the senators, Mr. Dorsey appeared to be reading from his phone between questions.While Ms. Sandberg made consistent eye contact with the senators, Mr. Dorsey appeared to be reading from his phone between questions.
Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee struck a more positive tone toward Facebook and Twitter at the start of the hearing, commending them for efforts they have taken in the past year to combat disinformation campaigns and foreign meddling on their platform.Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee struck a more positive tone toward Facebook and Twitter at the start of the hearing, commending them for efforts they have taken in the past year to combat disinformation campaigns and foreign meddling on their platform.
The committee chairman, Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina, and the vice chairman, Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, said the companies appeared to take the problems seriously but that they can’t solve their problems alone. Committee chairman Richard Burr, a Republican of North Carolina, and vice chairman, Mark Warner, a Democrat of Virginia, said the companies appear to take the problems seriously but that they can’t solve their problems alone.
“My instinct is to applaud the diligence of your security teams and credit you with taking the problem seriously,” Mr. Burr said in opening remarks. “But I’m not sure your success is the big story here.”“My instinct is to applaud the diligence of your security teams and credit you with taking the problem seriously,” Mr. Burr said in opening remarks. “But I’m not sure your success is the big story here.”
Mr. Warner said Congress may need to act to help the companies respond to foreign interference on their sites. Mr. Warner said Congress may need to act to help the companies combat foreign interference on their sites.
“You’ve gotten better, and I’m pleased to see you’ve begun to take action, but the Russians are getting better as well,” Mr. Warner said. “They have become harder to track. Worse, now that the Russian playbook is out there, other adversaries, like Iran, have joined the fray.”“You’ve gotten better, and I’m pleased to see you’ve begun to take action, but the Russians are getting better as well,” Mr. Warner said. “They have become harder to track. Worse, now that the Russian playbook is out there, other adversaries, like Iran, have joined the fray.”
— Cecilia Kang and Sheera Frenkel— Cecilia Kang and Sheera Frenkel
It did not take long for accusations of political bias to come crashing to the door of the Senate’s hearing room Wednesday morning. As senators delivered staid opening statements about threats to democratic elections, Alex Jones, one of the internet’s best known right-wing conspiracy theorists, stood just beyond the hearing room doors doing his best to crash the party.It did not take long for accusations of political bias to come crashing to the door of the Senate’s hearing room Wednesday morning. As senators delivered staid opening statements about threats to democratic elections, Alex Jones, one of the internet’s best known right-wing conspiracy theorists, stood just beyond the hearing room doors doing his best to crash the party.
“The real election meddling is by Facebook and Google and others that are shadow banning people,” Mr. Jones bellowed to a bank of cameras. “They are outright banning people and they are blocking conservatives involved in their own First Amendment political speech.”“The real election meddling is by Facebook and Google and others that are shadow banning people,” Mr. Jones bellowed to a bank of cameras. “They are outright banning people and they are blocking conservatives involved in their own First Amendment political speech.”
Facebook and YouTube banned Mr. Jones and his site, InfoWars, from their platforms in early August, sending traffic to the website tumbling.Facebook and YouTube banned Mr. Jones and his site, InfoWars, from their platforms in early August, sending traffic to the website tumbling.
Jack Posobiec, an ally of Mr. Jones, quickly stepped out of the crowd, microphone in hand, to conduct his own interview before rolling cameras. He complained about being barred from testifying. And he claimed his words were repeatedly misrepresented.Jack Posobiec, an ally of Mr. Jones, quickly stepped out of the crowd, microphone in hand, to conduct his own interview before rolling cameras. He complained about being barred from testifying. And he claimed his words were repeatedly misrepresented.
“Think about this in America, think about this in America,” he said.“Think about this in America, think about this in America,” he said.
Still, despite Mr. Jones’s best efforts, the social media executives and the sideshows they attracted were a clear second fiddle on Capitol Hill, where elsewhere senators had gathered for the second day of confirmation hearings for Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.Still, despite Mr. Jones’s best efforts, the social media executives and the sideshows they attracted were a clear second fiddle on Capitol Hill, where elsewhere senators had gathered for the second day of confirmation hearings for Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
— Nicholas Fandos— Nicholas Fandos
Intelligence committee chairman Senator Richard Burr, a Republican of North Carolina, opened the hearing by questioning whether Twitter was transparent enough about how it regulated its platform. The committee’s co-chairman, Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, questioned whether the companies were capable of solving the problems on their platforms themselves, or whether the government should step in and regulate tech companies.Intelligence committee chairman Senator Richard Burr, a Republican of North Carolina, opened the hearing by questioning whether Twitter was transparent enough about how it regulated its platform. The committee’s co-chairman, Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, questioned whether the companies were capable of solving the problems on their platforms themselves, or whether the government should step in and regulate tech companies.
Both Mr. Burr and Mr. Warner slammed Google for failing to send their chief executive.Both Mr. Burr and Mr. Warner slammed Google for failing to send their chief executive.
“I’m deeply disappointed that Google — one of the most influential digital platforms in the world — chose not to send its own top corporate leadership to engage this committee,” said Mr. Warner.“I’m deeply disappointed that Google — one of the most influential digital platforms in the world — chose not to send its own top corporate leadership to engage this committee,” said Mr. Warner.
Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey arrived at the Senate Intelligence Committee nearly an hour before the hearing was set to start. The two were flanked by a number of Facebook and Twitter staffers, including Brandon Borrman, Twitter’s vice president of communications, and Joel Kaplan, Facebook vice president of global public policy.Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey arrived at the Senate Intelligence Committee nearly an hour before the hearing was set to start. The two were flanked by a number of Facebook and Twitter staffers, including Brandon Borrman, Twitter’s vice president of communications, and Joel Kaplan, Facebook vice president of global public policy.
The executives waited in the Senate anteroom together until the hearing began at 9:30 a.m. The Senate Intelligence Committee had set out three chairs, including one for Larry Page, the chief executive of Google’s parent company Alphabet. Mr. Page’s chair is expected to remain empty during the hearing.The executives waited in the Senate anteroom together until the hearing began at 9:30 a.m. The Senate Intelligence Committee had set out three chairs, including one for Larry Page, the chief executive of Google’s parent company Alphabet. Mr. Page’s chair is expected to remain empty during the hearing.
— Sheera Frenkel— Sheera Frenkel
How will Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey respond to accusations of bias?How will Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey respond to accusations of bias?
The afternoon hearing involving Mr. Dorsey will be focused on content moderation on Twitter. If this House hearing is anything like the last hearing in July on claims of anti-conservative bias online, then expect Republican lawmakers like Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who is running for a Senate seat, to bring up similar accusations.The afternoon hearing involving Mr. Dorsey will be focused on content moderation on Twitter. If this House hearing is anything like the last hearing in July on claims of anti-conservative bias online, then expect Republican lawmakers like Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who is running for a Senate seat, to bring up similar accusations.
The claims of political bias were backed by President Trump last week and have become an increasingly loud rallying cry by Republicans. It’s also been a topic used by lawmakers for fund-raising, including by Ms. Blackburn and Representative Kevin McCarthy, the second-ranking House Republican who is from California, as well as Mr. Trump.The claims of political bias were backed by President Trump last week and have become an increasingly loud rallying cry by Republicans. It’s also been a topic used by lawmakers for fund-raising, including by Ms. Blackburn and Representative Kevin McCarthy, the second-ranking House Republican who is from California, as well as Mr. Trump.
This topic could come up in the Senate hearing as well. Lawmakers may ask what policies govern harassment and hate speech, and how they apply to people like the far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Last month, Facebook suspended Mr. Jones for violating the company’s policies, but Twitter did not. Mr. Dorsey will almost certainly talk about new efforts to root out dehumanizing content. Facebook will talk about its results on catching hate speech and how it’s algorithms sometimes block legitimate content.This topic could come up in the Senate hearing as well. Lawmakers may ask what policies govern harassment and hate speech, and how they apply to people like the far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Last month, Facebook suspended Mr. Jones for violating the company’s policies, but Twitter did not. Mr. Dorsey will almost certainly talk about new efforts to root out dehumanizing content. Facebook will talk about its results on catching hate speech and how it’s algorithms sometimes block legitimate content.
Will there be new talk about regulating tech companies?Will there be new talk about regulating tech companies?
It’s hard to imagine what regulating social media companies would look like, but more lawmakers from both parties are suggesting that something needs to be done to dial back the companies’ power.It’s hard to imagine what regulating social media companies would look like, but more lawmakers from both parties are suggesting that something needs to be done to dial back the companies’ power.
Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, has been vocal recently about the need to re-evaluate the blanket liability protections for social media known as Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Republicans have joined Democrats in a call for privacy regulations and renewed antitrust scrutiny of companies like Google.Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, has been vocal recently about the need to re-evaluate the blanket liability protections for social media known as Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. Republicans have joined Democrats in a call for privacy regulations and renewed antitrust scrutiny of companies like Google.
Will there be new information on foreign meddling in elections?Will there be new information on foreign meddling in elections?
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, which is owned by Google, have recently found foreign influence campaigns linked to Russia and Iran on their platforms. So far, they have not been able to link those campaigns to the midterm elections this November.Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, which is owned by Google, have recently found foreign influence campaigns linked to Russia and Iran on their platforms. So far, they have not been able to link those campaigns to the midterm elections this November.
It is possible that the companies will present new information that would tie foreign activity on their sites to the coming elections. And expect lawmakers on the Senate committee to press the companies for updates and more details on how these influence campaigns could be intended to disrupt the integrity of elections in the United States.It is possible that the companies will present new information that would tie foreign activity on their sites to the coming elections. And expect lawmakers on the Senate committee to press the companies for updates and more details on how these influence campaigns could be intended to disrupt the integrity of elections in the United States.
What will the companies boast about?What will the companies boast about?
Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey will most likely be eager to describe efforts they have made over the past year to root out disinformation and foreign meddling on their sites. Both companies have revised their policies on political advertising, allowing the public to view who is buying ads. They have promised to hire tens of thousands of content moderators. They have also applied artificial intelligence to detect fake accounts and rid their sites of bots that spread misinformation.Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey will most likely be eager to describe efforts they have made over the past year to root out disinformation and foreign meddling on their sites. Both companies have revised their policies on political advertising, allowing the public to view who is buying ads. They have promised to hire tens of thousands of content moderators. They have also applied artificial intelligence to detect fake accounts and rid their sites of bots that spread misinformation.
How will the executives perform under pressure?How will the executives perform under pressure?
Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey have been preparing for the hearings for weeks. Mr. Dorsey has also made many media appearances concerning the company’s decision to keep Mr. Jones on Twitter.Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Dorsey have been preparing for the hearings for weeks. Mr. Dorsey has also made many media appearances concerning the company’s decision to keep Mr. Jones on Twitter.
How they come across to lawmakers and the public, who will be able to watch the hearings online, could affect the companies’ reputations and elicit greater frustration from lawmakers. The executives have been coached to be apologetic about foreign interference and Facebook’s privacy debacle with Cambridge Analytica, and to answer questions directly and with data to back them up.How they come across to lawmakers and the public, who will be able to watch the hearings online, could affect the companies’ reputations and elicit greater frustration from lawmakers. The executives have been coached to be apologetic about foreign interference and Facebook’s privacy debacle with Cambridge Analytica, and to answer questions directly and with data to back them up.
— Cecilia Kang
In the year since Congress first called Facebook, Twitter and Google to testify about foreign interference, tech companies have been eager to prove that they are taking the threat seriously.
During a grueling two-day hearing in April, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, told lawmakers that cleaning up disinformation was a top priority for his company. In the months since, Facebook has introduced numerous safeguards intended to clearly label political ads and catch false accounts spreading disinformation.
Lawmakers have welcomed those changes, calling them a good start. Staff members on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Facebook executives alike have said that they expected Wednesday’s hearings to be friendlier than Mr. Zuckerberg’s appearance had been.
Twitter has introduced some similar measures. Both Facebook and Twitter have focused on removing what they call “inauthentic” — that is, false — accounts which spread disinformation. They have also introduced new rules which require any person running a political ad to be vetted, and they introduced public ad archives which catalog every political advertisement which has run on their platforms.
In recent months, tech companies have met twice at Facebook’s Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters to coordinate their efforts before the midterms. As reported in June, government officials present at the first meeting have questioned whether those efforts go far enough. Tech companies say they are not getting enough support from the government, such as early intelligence warnings on disinformation being spread by foreign entities.
— Sheera Frenkel
Google will not be represented at the hearing, and lawmakers — intent on highlighting their frustration with the company — plan to put an empty chair and, possibly, a name plate for Google at the witness table.
Mr. Burr insisted that Google send a top executive to the hearing. With Mr. Page declining to appear, the committee would have been content to have Google’s chief executive, Sundar Pichai, testify. But Mr. Burr would not accept Google’s offer to send its top lawyer, Kent Walker, saying that Mr. Walker simply was not of the same corporate rank as other witnesses, Ms. Sandberg of Facebook and Mr. Dorsey of Twitter.
Google’s decision may be rankling members of Congress at a time of increasingly bipartisan concern over the company’s competitive behavior and privacy-related issues like location tracking. Google said it wanted Mr. Walker at the hearing because he knows the most of anyone at the company about foreign meddling, the topic at hand.
“I assume Google carefully calculated their options but it strikes me as an awfully risky move to not send somebody,” said Paul Gallant, an analyst at Cowen and Company, a research group. “These hearings are high profile and they form lasting impressions. It doesn’t help that other two companies sent senior executives.”
— Cecilia Kang— Cecilia Kang